ArtPrize Nine winner's book funds scholarship

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The winner of ArtPrize Nine was back in Grand Rapids Wednesday for the 10th iteration of the art competition, but his piece didn't come with him.

Richard Schlatter of Battle Creekwon the $200,000 public vote grand prize last year for "A. Lincoln," a large portrait of President Abraham Lincoln made from nearly 25,000 pennies. It drew a crowd to the lobby of the Amway Grand Plaza and Schlatter spent up to seven hours each day there, talking to families about it.

The portrait is 12 feet tall and 8 feet wide, and it's heavy. That makes it difficult to move, which is why it stayed at its current home at32 W. Michigan Ave. in Battle Creek.

"My heart wants to keep it in Battle Creek," Schlatter said. "The people there have really responded and have kind of taken ownership of it. So we decided in lieu of selling it, we'll keep it in Battle Creek and it's going to remain there for the foreseeable future."